I was checking out the website for Wizards of the Coast, the publisher that does the official Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) novels. I figured that my book might be a good fit for them. I was saddened to see that they apparently are only interested in books that fit exactly into their 'shared world' setup. Why wouldn't they like a good book that was inspired directly by D&D and fits everything about it other than existing within their particular world?
Anyhow, the other thing I noticed was that they don't allow any eSubmissions. It hit on a pet peeve of mine, especially concerning the agents or publishers who still insist on using archaic snail-mail for correspondence. Haven't any of these people figured out that there's a brave new modern world out here? Why would I ever wish to deal with an agent that hasn't learned the magic of email? I am sure many of these agents are great, and they don't need me, but I certainly feel that I need an agent who is comfortable enough with modern technologies to deal with me in the way I wish to do business.
Okay, so they have their reasons and they are fine not to have people like me. I think that is a bit sad. I think they will lose access to more and more writers like me over time.
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A Crumby Deal
9 hours ago
Truthfully I think most of the snail mail agents are a lot like me -- old -- and don't have computers. I didn't get mine until 3 years ago. And I must say, modern technology scares the whoozis out of me. I still don't FB or Tweet, and can barely manage a blog post but I knew if I was going to write I needed to at least do one. My cell phone only makes calls, doesn't app, pic, or text.
ReplyDeleteAlso, call me an old-fashioned romantic (because I am one) but I think there's something so Hemingway-esque about sending an ms. by snail mail. I know it's a pain, I've done it, but the waiting for the response is sublime instead of checking e-mail every 15 minutes. With mail, you KNOW it's not going to get back to you for awhile so you can just BE instead of being frantic waiting.
I don't generally bother with agents/editors who only do snail mail. There are too many others who accept emails.
ReplyDeleteBTW, do you know about Preditors & Editors? It's one of the best sources for checking out agents, publishers, magazines, etc.
Here's the direct link for the Publisher info. http://pred-ed.com/pebs.htm
P&E is considered a writer's friend. Many of us use it like a bible before we submit anywhere.
i totally agree with this...
ReplyDeletei find it shocking when professionals in the writing industry don't even e-mail. the industry is changing in leaps and bounds right now. i don't think that there is much professionaly longevity for those not open to the changes. plus- it makes me question their efficiency.
Actually, I kinda think the no e-submissions thing is a way of weeding out writers that aren't willing to put the effort in. I'll guarantee you that publications like One Story and The Paris Review, that only take mailed submissions, have smaller slush piles than, say, The New Yorker, that takes electronic subs. Writers who mail manuscripts in are more likely to have done their research, maybe?
ReplyDeleteThat said, I confess I get cranky too, when I want to submit to a short story market and find they only take mailed subs. Gah!
I agree with you. I always find disheartening when they only want snail mail instead of e-mail, do you know how many trees can be saved if they just go eco friendly?
ReplyDeleteOh,I know many of them do it on purpose in order to keep the slush down, but I still think that this makes them unsuitable to be my agent.
ReplyDeleteOh, I haven't tried Preditors and Editors yet, because I assumed that QueryTracker wouldn't let bad ones be on their site. I may be wrong, though. It would surprise me if they were too lazy to keep the bad agents off.
ReplyDeleteI haven't given this too much thought, but perhaps some are stickin' with snail mail because they don't have the time/gumption to invest in technology? Are they smaller agencies?
ReplyDeleteI dunno. Every once in awhile I'll come across someone who doesn't have a computer or email and I can't imagine my life without one...though I do vaguely remember living successfully once upon a time without a cell phone and computer. hahaha
Yeah, I think Simon nailed it.
ReplyDeleteAnd bummer about Wizards of the Coast!
Dear Ted,
ReplyDeleteI think your blogs are fantastic and I've decided to award you the Versatile Blogger and One Lovely Blog Awards. Congrats, you deserve them! (See them on my page and copy them to yours, if you wish)
Tessa :)
I'm a little old fashioned. I have no problem with e-submissions, but I like paper submissions. Yeah, the paper/postage cost sucks, but if I want to submit my manuscript to an agent who is a good fit for my style of writing/genre then I'll do it either way. I also HATE editing everything on the computer. I'd rather print out my manuscript (chapter by chapter, not all at once) and mark it all up with a red pen before revising on the computer.
ReplyDeleteI know, I know. I'm strange and in the minority. I've had a computer for almost 20 years in one form or another and I'm very fond of my laptop. But for some reason when it comes to books/writing, I prefer the paper format.
Annikka, I agree that editing on paper is better. I get mine printed out on LuLu, because reading it like a real book seems to allow me to see things better.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the fence with this one and I'll tell you why. (and it has nothing to do with age or being techno savy). I really like the opportunity of being able to send sample chapters and synopses along with my queries. I have encountered so many pub/agents who, if they accept email subs, will only let you query. Yet, if you choose to snail mail them, you can send more material. So I don't mind biteing the bullet for a chance to send them more.
ReplyDeleteNow, having said all that, maybe they should stop being ridiculous about not letting us send them as much via email as we would send via snail. That's my two cents.
Wendy, I know what you mean, but with rejections coming so easily it gets expensive really fast to use snail mail, and there is no true need for it given modern technologies. For me it just comes down to needing an appropriate style of agent for me, which means one that uses email. You are right about the added pages; I tend to hold off on querying those who don't want to let me include some in the query.
ReplyDeleteTotally get why it bugs the heck out of you... being an American, living in Europe but wanting to target American agents and publishers. I THINK the reason they do it is to weed out the people for whom firing off emails willy nilly is the norm. It is much easier by email to not put much thought into it.
ReplyDeleteI'd think though, a middle ground might not be so hard... set up a 'submissions' website that forces some thought. It is the way scientific journals (that used to insist on snail mail) have gone, and it makes a lot of sense. I've only seen one agency that does it though (and honestly haven't submitted, as it requires some reworking of the synopsis and hook to fit their requirements.
True, Hart. I simply cannot afford it, let alone be bothered with it. I need an agent who works the way I do.
ReplyDeleteI think Hart has a point. Either that or they think computers are going to suck out our brains (which wouldn't be completely off base if you've ever met one of this years incoming college freshmen....). I much prefer people who work over email, but if it comes down to it, I'll send by paper.
ReplyDeleteI was gonna say what Simon CL and Hart J said about weeding-out those who aren't putting in the effort. Also, sorry about the lost follower. I think Blogger may periodicly "House Clean" and eliminate inactive Followings, but that's a guess.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm so with you on email submissions. That said, have you tried Tu Publishing? The editor there used to be at Wizards of the Coast.
ReplyDeleteAnd my agent just moved to a new agency, and they only accept snail submissions. I'm not sure why, and luckily I have her email, but I feel your pain.
Elana, I strike out in all ways with Tu. They want YA, which I am not doing, and they want characters of color from non-Western inspired fantasy, and my fantay is inspired by the very Western fairie realms. Too bad.
ReplyDeleteI have a list of snail mail agents. They'll get my query last, after all the other agents have sent me a reply. There's one, though, that I'm very interested in, so I might send one snail mail.
ReplyDeleteIt's expensive for me to send from Iceland, and especially to buy the SASE stamp.
Maybe they're doing this so that they don't get swamped with email submissions? Maybe they think that those who can be bothered to send it via snail mail are more "serious" than the rest of us? I don't know, but I think it's not right to have people print out pages and pages to send, if it'll only end up in the bin anyway.
I know they think that way, and many people still send them manuscripts, but I wonder how many great writers they don't get because of this old-fashioned system?
ReplyDelete